10 PERFECT Sound Design Moments That Improved Video Games

6. The Witness – Rumbles In The Jungle

At first listen, The Witness appears to lack a coherent sound design. The island where the game takes place offers sparse soundscapes, perplexing panning choices, and nonsensical auditory ranges, like massive waterfalls only being in earshot when super close. There are some very good narrative reasons for these peculiar choices, and it soon becomes clear there’s a gameplay reason too.

The Witness’ puzzles excel at using the environment to reveal answers. When the player reaches a path through a thick forest, they will most likely detect birds chirping, a sound mysteriously absent on the island. Herein lies the puzzle.

Each tweet is a different pitch that corresponds to the puzzle’s pathway and solution. The sounds become more uncanny when the birdsong is undercut with glasses smashing and ringing phones, as you realise the birdsong is actually being played through speakers camouflaged in the thicket.

The Witness successfully shows what can be done with a minimalist approach to sound and music. Not only are the sound puzzles backed by a logical source, but it also deepens the mystery of the island the player wanders on.